Researchers from Emory University’s Goizueta Brain Health Institute have made an exciting discovery that could change how we detect and treat Alzheimer’s disease.
By studying changes in the blood, they found clues that may help explain how the disease starts and why it affects memory.
This new study was published in the journal Nature Aging. It looked at blood samples from more than 2,100 people who were part of four major Alzheimer’s research programs. Using advanced tools, the scientists studied thousands of proteins in the blood and searched for links between these proteins and how people think and remember things.
In the past, most Alzheimer’s research has focused on certain clumps of protein in the brain called amyloid plaques. These are known to be a major sign of the disease. But this study shows that Alzheimer’s is much more complex.
It found that proteins involved in the immune system, energy use, waste cleanup, and the body’s support system (called the extracellular matrix) were also linked to memory and thinking problems.
What’s really interesting is that many of these blood changes didn’t match what doctors normally see in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. This means that things happening outside the brain—in other parts of the body—might also play a big role in how the disease develops and how quickly it gets worse.
Dr. Erik Johnson, one of the main researchers, said that many of these blood proteins are not directly tied to what is found in the brain after death. This suggests the rest of the body may affect how Alzheimer’s begins and progresses.
This discovery could lead to new treatments. Right now, most treatments target the brain. But if proteins in the blood are also important, then future medicines might help by targeting changes in the blood instead.
Dr. Allan Levey, director of the Goizueta Institute, said this study helps us learn which blood proteins are involved in Alzheimer’s. It could even lead to a simple blood test that spots signs of the disease before symptoms like memory loss begin.
A blood test would be a much easier and less invasive way to check for Alzheimer’s compared to current methods like brain scans. It could help people get diagnosed earlier and begin treatment sooner.
The team used data from respected Alzheimer’s studies, including Emory’s own programs, the Bio-Hermes study, and the Religious Orders Study and Rush Memory and Aging Project (ROSMAP).
These findings give hope that one day, a quick blood test could detect Alzheimer’s early, monitor its progress, and even guide new treatments that focus on the whole body, not just the brain.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, and higher magnesium intake could help benefit brain health.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce dementia risk, and coconut oil could help improve cognitive function in Alzheimer’s.
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